A South Korean court on Thursday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment for insurrection, ruling that his controversial martial law declaration in December 2024 was part of a plan to “paralyse” the National Assembly.
In a televised address last year, Yoon abruptly announced martial law, claiming extreme measures were needed to eliminate “anti-state forces.”
Prosecutors argued, and the court agreed, that the move involved sending troops to fight the assembly building to intimidate and silence political opponents.
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Presiding Judge Ji Gwi-yeon said, “The Court finds that the intention was to paralyse the assembly for a considerable period.
The declaration of martial law resulted in enormous social costs, and it is difficult to find any indication that the defendant has expressed remorse for that.”
The ruling marks a dramatic conclusion to one of South Korea’s most turbulent political episodes in recent history, and underscores the judiciary’s stance against attempts to undermine democratic institutions.